The Board of Education received a favorable report from McGladrey Accounting firm regarding the 2010-2011 audit. The school district received high marks in all areas, there were no findings or internal control concerns. Ms. Dothard complimented Bob Beckwith and the business office for the great audit report outcome.
Board Member Reports
Dave Rockwell reminded members about the Annual Booster Club raffle and dance on Nov. 5. Tickets are still available. More information and form >> Also, the Booster Club is looking to expand membership and want to recruit new members and get involved in extra curricular activities. Mr. Veasey observed the new administrators mentoring program over the Intersession break. He extended kudos to Jim and Ken for doing a great job with the program. Ms. Dothard attended the Illinois Liquid Asset Fund meeting that is held each quarter.
Student Board Member Samuel Ferry reported that the RIHS Marching Band performed at a competition in Metamora and placed. The band also performed at the University of IL competition and took 4th place overall and placed first in percussion and color guard. This weekend they are going to Illinois State University to compete. Also, Rock Island High School had many students successfully make it through IMEA auditions and make it into the Festival. Read names >>
Superintendent Report
Last Tuesday the board conducted self-evaluation, and as of completion, the board is now Level 2 trained in the TAG program from the Illinois Association of School Boards. The Athletic Director posting has reached it’s deadline of Oct. 24 and a team has been put together to review applications for the position and conduct interviews. The plan is to bring a recommendation to the board in December. Coffee and Conversations dates have been set up again this year: Dec. 3 at Milan Happy Joe’s, 9:00 a.m.; Dec. 8 at the Martin Luther King Center, 6:30 p.m.; and Dec. 10 at Rock Island HyVee, 9:00 a.m. It is an opportunity for an informal forum to hear from parents and citizens.
ISAT/PSAE Test Results
Assistant Superintendent Bill Osborne indicated that Rock Island-Milan School District students performance on the ISAT remained steady, 70%, however there is a concern that the school district isn’t seeing greater growth. The PSAE score dropped dramatically, from 34.20% to 28%. The combination of all tests came to 63%, missing this year’s target of 70% meets and exceeds.
School district improvement efforts include: research and development of best practices, improved articulation between schools and district improvement plans, professional development in areas of need, increasing involvement of community partnerships and using current assessment data from the new Acuity system to monitor student learning. There are a number of support efforts in place, and will work to address the needs of students.
Principal Mike Nitzel feels that the use of the new Acuity system will drive instruction in the classroom and be more beneficial than relying on ISAT results. The ISAT is a lagging indicator and determines outcome from a test at one point in time. The results are received months later, which reduces the chance to act on underperforming results. Acuity data will be more reliable and will identify what students are doing well and what students are struggling to learn. Rock Island Center for Math & Science teacher Chad Wickard concurred that Acuity is a beneficial tool and provides real time results within 24 hours helps teachers identify issues quickly. From there, teacher can assign other task and study components in Acuity to help the student through the issue.
The board will review the ISAT/PSAE data in more detail at the Nov. 8 meeting.
Scorecard
Final scorecard data from the 2010-2011 year revealed an increase in student attendance (94%) and promotion rate (99%). Good marks in students with less than two referrals (0) and no out of school suspensions were noted. The graduate rate missed the target of 89% and came in at 80%. All categories in Fiscal Health are in the green. The state profile score went up to 3.7 and the audit reported zero findings. In Quality Personnel, the diversity indicators are all in green, signaling that staff (23%) and certified staff (12%) went beyond the targets to recruit and maintain a diverse workforce. Certified staff absences increased over the last year. Asst. Superintendent Andrews believed that long term illnesses were the reason for the increase.
Director of Development
Director of Development has been a position for the last 25 years, and was created with the intention of hiring a football coach that would not be subject to a reduction in force. Dr. Oberhaus recommended to continue the existing Director of Development position for 2012-2013 and have the person teach one section for the first year. The person will then transition to teaching two sections the second year, and then three sections the third year. Dave Rockwell agreed that the approach was reasonable and would be good for the program to attract a quality candidate.
As soon as Athletic Director is hired, the high school will immediately address the Head Football Coach position.
Other items:
- The board approved the waiver application to the State of Illinois to allow the use of simulators in the Driver’s Education training at the high school. The waiver is for one year.
- The board unanimously approved the Superintendent’s contract, extending it through 2015-2016.
- Approved the Contract for Services for Write Tools, Centennial, CO, in the amount of $12,400.00 to conduct four days of Persuasive Writing to Grades K-6 teachers at Earl Hanson and the Rock Island Academy.
- Approved a contract of services with Mainstream Computer Services (Brian Neuerburg), Moline, IL, in the amount of $7,000.00 for computer repair and maintenance services to the preschool program.
- Approved a contract with Accurate Health Care of Moline, IL for specific student health care needs outside the scope of the school nurse staff.
- Approved fundraising requests for Denkmann, Longfellow, Edison and Washington.
- Recognized donations from:
Miner Consulting Engineers P.C., Engineering Services for Rock Island High School Swimming Pool, $2,200 value;
Mr. & Mrs. John Fleming $50 for rewards program at Washington Jr. High School
Mr. & Mrs. Jeff McClendon $25 for rewards program at Washington Jr. High School
Mary Brodd $10 for rewards program at Washington Jr. High School
Mighty Fortress Community Church, $400 for rewards program at Washington Jr. High School
Lisa Wymer, $50 for rewards program at Washington Jr. High School
Joseph & Mary Brune, $40 for the Science Department at Washington Jr. High School
Mike & Mary Lee Peterson, $250 for Washington Jr. High School